Located in the Willamette Valley, the
famous wine-growing region in Oregon, My Chauffeur has various tour destinations
to offer to its guests. Known as 'The Wine Routes,' these tours will take
visitors to the famous vineyards in and around the North Willamette Valley &
beyond.

The Willamette Valley is
a wide south-to-north oriented valley on the eastern side of the Coast Range and
western side of the Cascades of Oregon. The mountains act as a slight buffer to
the ragingly cold Oregon coast but the valley still experiences some of the
wettest conditions of any wine region. So where are the good spots where the
best wine grapes grow?

Q: What does Oregon Pinot Noir
Taste like?

If I had to pick only two words to
describe Oregon Pinot Noir it would be ‘cranberries’ and ‘earth’. The rustic
quality of Oregon Pinot Noir doesn’t always appeal to California wine
enthusiasts who enjoy fruit-forward wines. So be warned, you’re entering a
different world. Oregon red wines are nuanced, subtle, with high acidity that
don’t always explode with lusty fruit.

Two words: Cranberries &
Earth

The Willamette Valley
has been carved up into several sub-AVAs that are noted for their ability to
ripen Pinot Noir perfectly. There are 6 sub-AVAs within the Willamatte Valley
AVA. Let’s check out what makes ‘em unique and what wines you might check out as
a banner example of that sub-region.

Q: What Does Oregon Do
Best?

Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris
and Chardonnay

Q: How do I seek out the best Oregon
Pinot Noir?

Take a moment to understand the
Willamette Valley by reading about each region below. Then pick a sub-region
that fits your personal style and give it a whirl! You can either try an
affordable ($20) bottle from a good vintage (say 2012) or expect to spend above
$40 for something fantastic. If you’re overwhelmed with choices, feel free to
find me here for specific recommendations.

BUYING
TIP: If you spend a little over $30, the taste of Oregon Pinot
Noir changes remarkably. It goes from a rustic-and-choppy wine to
liqueur-of-black-cherries and velvet in a glass. But why?**

Oregon is dank and highly dependent
on weather year in and out. So where the grape grows really matters. There are
three major influences on the taste of Oregon Pinot Noir:

Vintage Variation -
Inclement weather in the spring and fall each
year greatly affect the taste of that year’s wine. Examples of warm vintages
include: 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2013. Cool vintages where wines are lighter and
have higher acidity are: 2010 and 2011

Vineyard Location - Morning fog in the Willamette Valley means south
facing slopes are ideal. See above for an understanding of the sub-regions in
the Willamette Valley.

Complexity and Body from Oak Aging - Certain winemakers focus on
fancier oak programs with high quality French
oak barrels and longer aging. In Oregon Pinot Noir, French oak adds cinnamon,
clove and vanilla notes in the wine. Wines with less oak often get their body
and tannin from grape skins and tend to be slightly more bitter. This is an
important factor to pay attention to when searching for the style you like.